Sounders need backup keeper with Boss injured

Two days before the last game of the MLS regular season and 10 days before opening the playoffs, Sounders FC is in the market for a reserve goalkeeper.

No. 2 keeper Terry Boss has been ruled out for the Sounders’ match at Houston on Saturday, and the club already is exploring its options with an eye toward the playoff opener on Oct. 31.

“We’re going to need to bring in a league goalkeeper or do something there,” coach Sigi Schmid said after training Wednesday at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila. “We’re working on that right now. We think if he lays low for a week or so we think that he’ll be OK. But we’re not 100 percent sure.”

Boss suffered two undisclosed injuries during training Monday and was a late scratch Tuesday when the Sounders concluded their run in CONCACAF Champions League with a 2-1 loss to Saprissa of Costa Rica.

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Regular starting goalkeeper Kasey Keller was hustled into action, and he gave up a soft game-deciding goal in the 87th minute, when a shot from Saprissa’s Josue Martinez slithered between his hands and into the goal.

Keller declined to address the media after the game, but he spoke Wednesday.

“I made a mistake – simple as that,” he said. “It happens. Obviously, I’m not happy. But if you’re a goalkeeper, it’s going to happen to you. Now, you just gotta try to go another bunch of games without making a mistake. And that’s really what it comes down to: training today and getting ready for Saturday.”

Saprissa’s first goal also seemed to result from an unforced error.

With Seattle leading 1-0 on a Nate Jaqua goal, Saprissa equalized after Zack Scott tried to shield the ball for Keller to come out and claim at the top of the penalty area.

However, Saprissa’s Jairo Arrieta arrived about the same time as Keller and managed to work the ball past him and into the goal.

“I think it was just a case where somebody thinks there’s more time, and there’s not, and later you think, ‘Wow, I should have cleared that,’ ” Keller said. “… We’ve had so many positives lately, that maybe it’s a good thing.

“That’s one thing about this game, you can have so many great things, and then eventually you’re going to be brought back to earth at some stage, and then you’ve got to fight back to where you were. … But if you’re going to make a mistake, maybe that’s the time to make it: in a game that doesn’t mean a whole lot.”

ADDED TIME

Leading scorer Fredy Montero sat out the Saprissa match with a quad injury and is ineligible for Houston because of yellow-card accumulation. However, Schmid said Montero would be physically able to play this weekend if eligible, and Montero expressed confidence that he’ll be fine for the playoffs. … Montero also said this is an inappropriate time to answer questions about his plans for next season. “I think it would be a lack of respect to talk about that at this point,” he said through a translator. “I am 100 percent focused on the playoffs and playing with the Sounders. Maybe after that’s passed we can talk about what opportunities there are.” … Schmid said he is considering Jaqua or Mike Fucito to start in Montero’s place Saturday. He implied he might be leaning toward Jaqua, who played with the Dynamo in 2007 and ’08. … Sounders FC announced Wednesday that it will hold its second annual invitational combine for top college seniors, Dec. 17-19 in Las Vegas. First-round pick David Estrada was among the seniors who attended last season.